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The Liar I Married: A totally addictive psychological thriller with a mind-blowing twist

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Had me hook, line and sinker from the first page. I could not put it down. I was fully engrossed right from the start!… Incredible!… I finished this in one single sitting… Will keep you up all night… I tried going to sleep, but every time I closed my eyes, I just kept thinking about this… BAM, what a twist!’ Arcreviews_by_m, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Two people. One marriage. A lie that could kill them…

When I met my husband John for the first time, he swept me off my feet. Now I lie in a hospital bed, recovering from a car crash, and John refuses to tell me what happened. He insists he’s looking after my best interests, but when an anonymous note is left in my room, telling me not to trust anyone, I wonder if that also includes my husband?

I stare into my wife’s big beautiful eyes and my stomach twists. We used to be so happy – how did it all come to this? As she begs me to tell her what happened that night, I struggle to find the words. You see, our marriage isn’t as perfect as Jessie makes out, and the night of the crash, something terrible happened… something that no one – not even Jessie – can ever know. For both of our sakes, I have to do whatever it takes to stop the truth coming out…

In a marriage full of secrets, there are always two sides to the story. But who is the liar and who is telling the truth?

This absolutely nail-biting and addictive psychological thriller is perfect for readers of The Housemaid, The Girl on the Train and The Perfect Marriage. Prepare to be hooked!

What readers are saying about The Liar I Married:

I was compulsively reading this and could not put it downjust *chef’s kiss*… this book’s twists are perfect because they genuinely left my jaw on the floorI LOVE THIS.” Booktuberforlife, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow, wow, wow, wow, and WOW!! I DEVOURED!… My head was all over the place!… It really was fantastic, and I didn't want to put this down ever.” zooloosbookdiary, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh my goodness!simply outstanding!… has you gasping… Please D.K., in the words of Oliver Twist ‘can I have some more?’. Sheer brilliance!!” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow, wow, wow!! What a thrill ride!! Kept me guessing the whole time!!sip_andread, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Wow! This mind-boggling book had me on the edge of my seat… I fell head-first into it and did not come up for air until I finished it… The twists were neck-breakingGasp-worthy.” Escapetobooks, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pulled me in from the opening paragraphs and never let go!…

252 pages, Paperback

Published August 19, 2025

2573 people are currently reading
895 people want to read

About the author

D.K. Hood

56 books578 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
Profile Image for Mandy White (mandylovestoread).
2,797 reviews865 followers
August 23, 2025
Something different from a trusted author DK Hood. I love her police procedural series with Kane and Alton so when I heard she was writing a psychological thriller I knew I needed to read it.

What a wild ride! So many dodgy characters who all had a reason to harm our main character Jessie. I really did not like most of them, especially her husband John. There was so much lying, so many mind games and the gaslighting was insane. I did like Jessie, although she did make some really bad decisions. I felt for her having no memory after the accident, it would be awful to not remember anything or anyone.

The audiobook was well done, I hadn’t heard this narrator before but she brought the story to life.

Thanks so much to Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on August 22nd
September 13, 2025
My first non-police procedural, standalone from D.K. Hood didn't disappoint. In standard D.K. Hood fashion, Debra and I buddy read this together (with me falling behind as always, so be sure to check out her review too).

I enjoyed this one a lot - it concerned me at the start that it seemed to be along the lines of a few other books I'd read but definitely took a turn about half way and the twists had me totally shocked.

I would pretty much pick anything up written by D.K. Hood at this point!

Many thanks to author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Tonya.
782 reviews189 followers
August 28, 2025
Liar, liar pants on fire! The big question throughout this twisted tale is who is lying. With multiple unreliable narrators, gaslighting, and memory loss; this story kept me engaged. There were many twists and turns that were unpredictable and surprising. The narration brought the characters to life adding intensity and intrigue. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.
Profile Image for Matt.
4,857 reviews13.1k followers
July 19, 2025
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, D.K. Hood, and Bookouture for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always eager to explore the writing of D.K. Hood, I stepped away from her series work and tried this standalone thriller. The ARC is a great novel that pulled me in from the opening paragraphs and never let go! Jessie was doing well in her marriage for a number of years, until she began to suspect her husband was having an affair. While she could never prove it, her suspicions continued to appear plausible. After a horrible car accident left Jessie in a coma, things changed drastically. After she woke up, with no clear memories, it appears as though John has been trying to pull the levers on her inheritance and deem her unable to handle her company or investments. Jessie knows something is amiss and yet her accident has left everyone unsure if she is stable enough to vouch for all she is saying. D.K. Hood delivers a stunning psychological thriller, as good as her series work I have come to enjoy over the years!

Jessie had a great marriage. She and John were happy and making the most of things, until Jessie suspected he was stepping out on her. John's corporate attorney, Rebecca, was always around and had countless 'late nights' with him, something that John dismissed. Things kept getting worse and Jessie could not handle it, what with the pressure of her grandmother's death and other revelations within the family.

After a car accident left Jessie in a coma for a year, she woke up remembering nothing. Her world was turned upside down when John rarely visited and only nurses--paid for by John--showed up to take care of her. Jessie could only surmise that they were also trying to sabotage her and try to push things to the limit. As Jessie got better, her past began to come into focus. She remembered that John was pushing to take control of her family's large holdings and investments, something he continued after the accident, as he sought to show she was not of sound mind. However, with each passing day, Jessie was able to piece things together a little more. She might have been too weak to pull the rug out from under her husband, but she would not condone John's philandering ways.

Just when Jessie thought she had it all figured out, a twist sends reality and fiction into a tailspin. Jessie struggled to find the truth and hoped that she could parse at least some clear narrative together before being destitute. By the end, what was clear is as murky as coming out of a coma fog, with no one entirely free of blame. D.K, Hood delivers an addictive thriller that I could not stop reading!

There is something about a D.K. Hood novel that gets my blood pumping. The twists, the deception, the falsehoods, and that's only in the prologue. Hood has a way of crafting her narrative so the reader feels as though they are in the middle of the action, especially as things gain momentum. Characters are impactful and keep the reader wondering who they can believe, with something relatable in many who grace the pages of the book. Plot points are key to this book, which bounces from past to present, filling in gaps with each truth that surfaces. It is only when the full picture emerges that the reader can gasp aloud. A stellar effort by D.K. Hood that only strengthens my resolve to keep reading her work.

Kudos, Madam Hood, for a reading experience like few others I have had of late!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Profile Image for April.
625 reviews181 followers
August 18, 2025
Jessie definitely went through a lot in this story, as she has awaken from a coma after a horrible accident. With a shaky memory, Jessie tries to decipher who is gaslighting her and who truly had her best interest at heart. This gripping thriller held my attention the entire time, and I was truly invested into Jessie’s outcome. I enjoyed the dual time lines that alternated between the months leading to the accident & after Jessie awakens. D.K. Hood did a great job at building suspense, causing you to become engulfed in this suspenseful read.

In the audiobook, Kate Handford did a fantastic job with the narration! She made you feel every intense scene & truly brought life to Jessie, making us empathize with her even more.

With unreliable narrators, the unlikeliest of suspects, gaslighting and more.. I’d recommend this read! Thank you Bookouture, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for an eARC & ALC. All opinions are my own.

Publication 🗓️ : 08.22.25

Professional Reader100 Book Reviews
489 reviews9 followers
August 3, 2025
I was hooked and binge listened to this high quality psychological thriller told from the point of view of Jessie as she awakes after a year of being in a coma and tries to find the truth about the past , the accident and her future. The drip feeding of the history and non linear structure had me gripped as i grew to care about jessie and twist after twist along with some red herrings had me up long into the night. It was action and emotive and realistic. It also showed the way situations can be viewed and how insecurities can lead people to thinking the worst. The final reveal was not what i expected and yet it fitted perfectly. I was sad it was over but it felt that all characters had their plots resolved. Jessie was well developed, it might have benefited from a pov of Dolly for a chapter as while I loved learning about the interaction from jessie pov i felt this would have added some weight to the story and more dramatics. The only thing I was not sure of when i had finished listening was whether the title was the right one, however i can see why it was chosen but wonder if there was something stronger. I highly recommend this it was so engaging and entertaining. Thank you netgallery, publisher and author and narrators for this 5 star listen
Profile Image for ᴄᴀᴛ.
103 reviews1 follower
August 13, 2025
I love thriller books, so this one automatically intrigued me when I read the synopsis. Unfortunately I didn't care for it much, this is my first time reading a book by this author, I feel like some of it is me not caring for the writing style enough. I really liked the first 30 or so percent but then near the end it seemed a bit predictable.
I didn't care for the characters much (including the main character), and the plot twist wasn't that surprising to me, I feel like it could have been better. This wasn't a terrible book, but it definitely wasn't the best either
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an audiobook copy of this book.
July 31, 2025
⭐⭐⭐
Are enough for this book.
At first, it was intriguing bc I wanted to see where the story would go, but it didn’t excite me much after that, since I was able to predict the events past the halfway point. That’s something I don’t enjoy when reading thrillers—I prefer my guesses to be wrong so I can admire the author’s depth of thought.
HOWEVER, this is just my opinion—maybe you’ll enjoy it more than I did.
Profile Image for niki.
27 reviews5 followers
July 14, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy of this book for exchange of my honest review!
This book follows the story of Jessie who just woke up from a coma and has memory loss.Her marriage has been perfect until her husband,John met Rebecca. She suspects that he's cheating.
I did not enjoy this book,it felt like a chore and I could not wait to be finally done with it. The story of her grandma was more interesting than the main story that was happening through out the book and the part with Jessie's grandma was not that long and was unrelated to the plot of the car accident. All the characters were unlikable.
Profile Image for Lori Martin.
396 reviews257 followers
August 22, 2025
The Liar I Married by D.K. Hood is an unsettling thriller with twists you won't see coming! I love D.K. Hood's Kane and Alton series and Beth Katz series, so when I saw she wrote a standalone thriller I had to read it! Jessie wakes up with a nurse standing over her and she's hooked up to all kinds of machines. The nurse, Dolly, tells her that she was in a car accident that was her fault and has been in a coma ever since. Jessie can't remember much about the accident or the day of the accident. She gets flashes, but not enough to know what happened.

Jessie is married to John, who works very long hours in hopes of making partner. The marriage was fine until John started taking Rebecca, a lawyer at work, to dinners, social outings, and on business trips. Jessie saw the way John looked at Rebecca and knew there had to be something going on between them. When Jessie tries to get John to tell her what happened, he is vague, and says he's not supposed to share anything with her because of doctor's orders. According to John and Dolly, the doctor doesn't want anyone talking to Jessie about what happened until she can remember it on her own.

When Jessie gets a note passed to her from a trusted housekeeper, it scares her. The note says Don't Trust Anyone. Who could've written this note? Is Jessie being lied to? Was she really the cause of the car accident? Why hasn't her family been by to visit her? Why won't they give her a phone to use or a computer? She's not even allowed to have a television because it might upset her! What is going on and who is behind this? Why is she always so tired? Did someone try to kill her? Is John lying to her? How will Jessie find out what really happened? Will Jessie figure out what's going on before it's too late? The Liar I Married will keep you up way too late as you race to get answers. I rate The Liar I Married 4 stars with a high recommendation. The book comes out August 22 and if you love a good thriller, you should pick it up! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of The Liar I Married in exchange for a fair review. #TheLiarIMarried
Profile Image for Elaine.
1,405 reviews42 followers
August 15, 2025
Ok. So I’m going to try to give this one a great review, BUT, I’m not sure how I’M going to pull that off without giving anything away!

Let’s start with the fact that Jessie and John are married.
He’s smart, rich, handsome and has a solid non-negotiable pre-nup. And, Jessie believes he’s cheating on her at every given opportunity. 😮😮😮

Next up… Jessie can never leave him because she cannot LIVE without an income. So, she puts up with all the nonsense…. And, for the sake of her girls…
BUT, when Jessie’s grandma dies and leaves a lot of money/assets to her… well, everything is about to change!

They are arguing ALL THE TIME!
And, the fact he’s just hired a new lawyer for his firm, and she’s a knockout… well, that doesn’t help matters…

So, when we find Jessie unconscious, all but dead…in a hospital… well, life as she knows it is about to change!

But she has NO IDEA how much. Why? Or who is behind all of this!!??!!

She remembers an accident… but everything else is foggy….

As her memories begin to return though, well, the reader is in for a real treat!!

#TheLiarIMarried by @DKHood. Narrated beautifully by @KateHandford.

4 1/2 TWISTED, Crazy Family, Crazy Antics, Psychological Thriller, Don’t forget to BREATHE 🌟🌟🌟🌟 🌟💫 stars for me!! Happily rounded up to 5⭐️!

***** THIS HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!!! LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES STARTING 8/22/25!!! *****

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
Profile Image for Corinna ⚓️ Reading At Sea.
89 reviews5 followers
August 14, 2025
The Liar I Married hooked me right away with its quick pacing and gripping premise. I loved the coma storyline, the deep sense of betrayal, and Jessie’s unreliable memories that kept me questioning every character. The alternating timelines—switching between past and present—were handled beautifully, and the flashbacks added tension and depth without slowing the story. The “Then” and “Now” structure kept the mystery sharp and everyone under suspicion.

That said, the plot lost me a bit when the sperm-donor storyline came into play. It felt jarring compared to the rest of the narrative and pulled me out of the suspenseful rhythm. I was far more invested in the core mystery: the accident, the memory gaps, and the unraveling web of lies. While the big twist didn’t land as strongly for me as it might for others, the fast pace, layered tension, and clever use of flashbacks kept me turning pages late into the night.

If you like psychological thrillers with shifting perspectives, unreliable narrators, and a steady drip of revelations, this one will keep you hooked from start to finish.
Profile Image for Donna Mallery.
958 reviews93 followers
November 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! The writing style made it a pleasure to just read, and enjoy the story! There’s a lot of gas lighting going on! It would be awful to be kept from seeing your children! There’s nothing earth shattering here. Just the enjoyment of being involved in a story. I was searching for more of her books, and see she has a long standing series. I’m just disappointed that there aren’t any more under kindle unlimited which is how I pick my books.
Profile Image for Ahmed Ismail.
121 reviews72 followers
August 22, 2025
"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙨: 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪—𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪."

The opening chapter of The Liar I Married reeled me in straight away. This audiobook is fast, easy to follow, and the kind you could finish in one sitting. It’s my first read by D. K. Hood, and though I hear she’s best known for her police procedurals, she proves she can spin a psychological thriller just as well.

What a ride! With so many shady characters circling Jessie, everyone seemed to have a reason to hurt her. Most of them are unlikable, but honestly, that just made the story more fun. The narration was excellent, too. The narrator really brought the tension to life.

If you’re after an entertaining psychological thriller that keeps you guessing, this one’s for you. The Liar I Married is out now, so grab a copy.

Many thanks to Bookouture Audio for gifting me this ALC via #NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to listen to this one early.
Profile Image for Kevin Clark.
5 reviews7 followers
August 10, 2025
First I want to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of the audiobook. A car accident, no memory of what happened, no one telling you anything. This had me pulled in from the beginning. As she slowly gets bits of the memories back can she questions if her husband is being faithful. Or had he given up even before the accident. Why won’t she be allowed to get information about her life? Don’t trust anyone!
#netgalley #dkhook
Profile Image for Katherine.
956 reviews179 followers
August 16, 2025
I have been seeing this book in the bookstagram space for sometimes now and I have heard rave reviews about it. The Liar i married is hyped up for all the right reasons as this psychological thriller undeniably grips the reader's attention with its unpredictable twists and turns.

The story follows Jessie, a loving wife and mother of her twin daughters. Everything went downhill when she begins to suspect John her husband having an affair. Then she has a terrible car accident that leads to her being in coma for a long time. Upon waking up she finds herself in different circumstances. Everybody is acting suspicious and is surely hiding things from her.

John has hired a paid nurse for her and he almost never bothers to visit her. When her grandmother passed away John put pressure on her to let him handle the investments and other financial holdings. But that's not all. There is something way more elaborate than what meets the eye.

I was absolutely thrilled to read this because the premise was absolutely intriguing. Fleshing out the elements of surprises, mystery, secrets, lies and consequences of a plot, the author has explored each aspect in an extraordinary way.
Profile Image for Ellen Gtstwrs.
243 reviews9 followers
August 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all, a big thank you to Bookouture and D.K. Hood for the ALC of The Liar I Married. The book releases on August 22nd, and trust me ,you don’t want to miss it!

Let me just say: I was 70% into this book and still had no idea how everything was going to come together 🫣
and that’s exactly what I want in a thriller. Twists that are truly unexpected, a story that keeps you guessing until the very end… this book delivers all of that and more.

I listened to the audiobook version, and honestly? I couldn’t stop. Just like Jessie, I needed answers. You simply can’t put this one down .
it hooks you from the first chapter and never lets go.

Add this to your TBR immediately. If you don’t, you’ll be missing out on an absolutely gripping 5-star read!
Profile Image for eli.
80 reviews12 followers
November 23, 2025
you know what? it was actually a pretty solid thriller, truly kept me on the edge of my sit and it was so anxiety driven. the only downfall is that the plot twist is objectively pretty easy to predict.
Profile Image for Julie Lacey.
2,035 reviews129 followers
August 22, 2025
This is a brilliant psychological thriller.
Having enjoyed DK Hood’s crime series, I knew I’d like this book too.
It’s a bit of a tricky one to review as there’s a few twists and turns in this one, and it definitely kept me on my toes.
Jessie wakes up from a coma and is in a makeshift hospital room in her late Grandmother’s house. When she asks what happened to her she’s told by the nurse that she’s been told not to tell her anything, and she must remember for herself.
Jessie remembers hitting a tree in her car but can’t remember why or how it happened.
We have chapters before the crash and in the present day as Jessie tries to piece things together.
I really liked Jessie as she is a strong woman who is determined to fight back when she realises that someone wants her dead.
This is a great book and one that I’d highly recommend.
Thanks to Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.
607 reviews2 followers
August 15, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for an ALC. Honestly, this book was pretty terrible. Like many bad thrillers, the FMC is pretty unintelligent. And I’m sorry, but if you woke up from a several month coma and nobody would tell you where your children are/if they’re ok… there’s no way any parent would be ok with this. And seeing as how this happened in the book, it drove me nuts. Really unrealistic, and not very “twisty” at all. Definitely not recommended- sorry.
Profile Image for Sue Plant.
2,321 reviews32 followers
August 23, 2025
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

oh my word this book pushed all my buttons....it was with joy and terror that i continued reading it..

ohhh man i need to read a light and fluffy book now to get over this one....
Profile Image for Alaina.
341 reviews57 followers
August 27, 2025
thank you NetGalley & Bookouture Audio for this ARC! i would say this book was just okay. I did not see the twist coming whatsoever, but some of the story just fell a little short for me. a good read nonetheless!
Profile Image for Branita J.
213 reviews18 followers
September 7, 2025
This book kept me guessing. I thought i had it figured out, but i was wrong. This was my first D. K Hood book, and it was fantastic. I was enthralled from the first page. It has twists and turns. It isn't told linear, which isn't for everyone. However, it's not confusing to get through. Kate Handford narrates the audiobook. She is wonderful.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and D. K. Hood for the opportunity to listen to this book.
Profile Image for StinaStaffymum.
1,471 reviews1 follower
August 27, 2025
I trusted him with my life...I shouldn't have...

This is my first foray into D.K. Hood, having never read her series. But as this is a standalone thriller I decided to check it out. It's an unsettling thriller with twists and a sense of claustrophobic mistrust throughout. Like the protagonist, you won't know who to trust.

Jessie wakes from a twelve month coma in a room she recognises but can't place and a nurse caring for her that she's never met. She's hooked up to all sorts of machines beeping and bleeping that it disorients her and she's suddenly afraid of what this all means. Her nurse Dolly tells her she was a car accident and thus a coma for the past twelve months. She has no recollection of what happened or leading up to the accident. She gets flashes of flashbacks...but nothing much to piece together.

Jessie remembers her husband John, who works long hours as a stockbroker in the hope of making partner, and that they have twin girls Emily and Olivia. Over the years, John has had a roving eye and Jessie found it difficult to trust him where beautiful women were concerned. When John takes on a new lawyer, the stunningly beautiful Rebecca Lawson, Jessie's mind whirls with possibilities and mistrust. The way he looked at her and the socials filled with photos of the pair of them at work functions and seemingly enjoying themselves a little too much. It doesn't help when her brother Michael tells her he's seen John lunching a little too intimately with Rebecca. He's strayed before - what's to stop him doing it again?

When John visits her, she tries to ask him about what happened and the girls but he is vague, citing that the doctors have advised against sharing anything she doesn't remember and to let her remember in her own time. But she longs to see her girls. Even just a photo of them.

Then Jessie receives a note passed to her from a trusted housekeeper saying simply "Don't trust anyone." Who could have written it? What does it mean? Are they lying to her? Was the accident really her fault? What is it no one is telling her? And why has none of her family been to visit her? Why does she not have a phone or computer or even a television? What doe the flashbacks mean? And why is she so tired all the time? If she could just get to the office, she knows she will discover the truth and be able to call her lawyer.

I loved Alex. I think he was my favourite character of all. The rest were either OK or unlikeable - but I won't say who as it will spoil the story.

This book raises so many questions as you race through it and it messes with your head. It is an uncomfortable read in parts as you try to decipher what's real and what isn't. There are so many secrets and so much deceit as you try to unpick the tangled web in Jessie's mind. You really won't be able to see the wolf for the sheep in this one.

It was a quick read that was gripping from start to finish. I can't say it was entertaining because I found it very unsettling and uncomfortable. But it is a good read but I was glad to finish because of how unsettling I found it. The line between what's real and what wasn't was well and truly blurred that made for uncomfortable reading at times but also makes it a good read!

Similar to Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson, this is a thriller you won't forget in a hurry.

I would like to thank #DKHood, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLiarIMarried in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Profile Image for Victoria Tezangi.
117 reviews10 followers
August 10, 2025
I genuinely did not know who I could trust in this book including the narrator!

Jessie has just woken up in bed with a nurse standing over her and unsure of how she got there and why only to then be told she was in fact in a car crash that almost took her life and it was her own fault. Only remembering snapshots of her life Jessie still is not convinced the crash was an accident. Laying in her recovery bed, Jessie begins to remember more and more including the decline of her once beautiful marriage that was torn apart when her husband John met Rebecca. While he has always insisted he has never cheated on her, Jessie doesn't believe either of them when they they were not on a cosy date when she was convinced beyond a doubt that that is what she had seen and when pieces of the night of the accident play back in her head she is reminded of the hours before the crash when John was late home from work, an empty wine glass, Rebecca climbing out of John’s car, a blazing row on the doorstep…

This is a thriller that genuinely kept me guessing for quite a while and shifted away from what I originally thought the book was going to focus on. There were so many twists and turns, back story and extra characters that played a huge role. The synopsis didn't give all too much away regarding the plot and huge parts of this story are revealed to you as you read it with no warning coming up. For the first half of this book I didn't know who to trust! Everyone was suspicious including the narrator for I wasn't sure just how reliable she was, after all, her memory was not fully recovered. There were questions and mysteries throughout that kept me on my toes and guessing and overall this was a fun domestic thriller easy to get lost in pretty quickly.

Now, I did feel as though the second half of the book had its predicable moments. It felt as though once something was revealed it was simple the truth of it and we didn't dive much deeper and it felt as though we were lacking one more twist and a touch anti climatic. The final page however, did leave me with some questions I'm just unsure on whether or not that was a good thing this time around. There were moments I struggled to keep up with everything going on and certain characters which did effect my rating but didn't take away from how exciting and thrilling this book was.

I listened to this as an audiobook and felt the narration was great. Clear dialogue and Kate Handford did a great job brining Jessie to life and picking up on her emotions, conveying them convincingly. I think a second narrator would have been a good option simply because there were a lot of characters and I feel as though it would have been easier to follow along with a second narrator.

Overall, this was a fun thriller that kept me guessing throughout most of the story and had characters I genuinely loved. I didn't know who to trust and the story flowed really well with nothing feeling slow or rushed. I would absolutely recommend if you're looking for an easy read thriller.
Profile Image for Corinne’s Chapter Chatter.
959 reviews43 followers
July 28, 2025
While it’s far from a “mind blowing twist” as it was really predictable throughout, it was a fun read and I enjoyed it.
I had intended to start it for a short while and save most for before bed and when I wake up, my typical audiobook time, but next thing I knew I consumed the whole thing in one sitting as I got other things accomplished.

I’ve never read this author before which makes sense as police procedurals aren’t my thing and that’s their typical sub genre but I liked his simplistic writing style. I would classify this as a laid back popcorn type thriller. Low stakes and one that you don’t have to think too much about. I don’t mean that negatively at all, it’s just a comfort type read.

It was narrated by Kate Handford who did a decent job but I’ll admit I did have to speed it up significantly as she has that lilt to her speech patterns where she goes up at the end of every word. It’s just not substantial listen to 8 hours of that. For the most part she spoke at a decent pace but it was inconsistent as I was able to listen at 2.5x speed with easy clarity and that’s not typical for me at all. So while you lose the narrators spin on the nuance by speeding it up, on this case it helped and the listen was enjoyable.

As far as the plot. I enjoyed it even though I felt the “twists” were easily discovered well before they happened. The one suspenseful aspect was you questioned who you could trust at one time or another and that was fun.

It comes out August 22nd 2025 so get this on your TBR to get in a thriller mood. It makes for a great entry to the thriller genre as well.


I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Bookouture Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My general rating system is below. Since I primarily read ARC books I rate according to how I think like minded readers will receive the book. I will round up or down depending on many factors and try not to let my personal wants affect a books ratings.

⭐️ Hated It but pushed through as I don’t DNF ARCs I have received.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, content issues, poorly edited.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but it had something that stopped me from rounding up. Usually the book may have much more potential than what was given. I recommend it but with reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Really enjoyed it or think others will. These are solid reads that I definitely would recommend for a variety of reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! These are books that remain rent free in my head for well after unfinished the book. It can be for a variety of reasons from being very well written or just the vibes that captured my mind. These books are also ones I would probably read again
Profile Image for Els .
2,277 reviews52 followers
July 22, 2025
Waking up after an accident without any family present—only a nurse bending over you—must be truly shocking. You're left with a whole range of questions, but this person refuses to answer them because it's supposedly better for your recovery. But how can groping around in the dark help you heal? It’s only more frustrating, and that’s exactly what you don’t need in situations like this.

Gradually, Jessie starts to realize that there’s a lot more going on, and when the truth finally surfaces, it’s no wonder she can’t believe her ears.

I’m a huge fan of this author. She writes fantastic stories that keep you on the edge of your seat, with your heart practically jumping out of your chest from the suspense.

This time, however, she treats us to a psychological thriller and once again proves that she is a talented person.

The theme of the book may not be very original, but she puts her own spin on it by creating so much confusion that I had absolutely no idea who I could trust.

Of course, I once again put my money on the wrong person, although I’m still not convinced they were as innocent as they claimed. I really hope Jessie made the right decision and doesn’t get herself into trouble again.

A story full of unreliable characters, though fortunately there are still a few who genuinely care about Jessie.

A good book with a whole stack of secrets coming to light, showing how strong family bonds can offer protection, while others are broken by betrayal and self-interest. 4 stars

Thank you
Profile Image for Heather.
398 reviews29 followers
August 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book pulled me in from the very first chapter and didn’t let go. The Liar I Married is a gripping psychological thriller that blends secrets, deception, and danger in such an addictive way that I found myself racing through the pages. The tension builds slowly at first, giving you just enough glimpses of unease in the relationship, before spiraling into a web of lies that kept me questioning everything.

The writing style is fast-paced but still layered with detail, making it easy to visualize the characters and setting. I really appreciated how D.K. Hood created such an unsettling atmosphere one where even small moments carried a sense of dread. The relationship dynamics felt authentic and chilling, exploring how trust can be both powerful and destructive when it’s placed in the wrong person’s hands.

The twists were well executed, and while I had my suspicions, the ending caught me completely off guard in the best way. It wasn’t what I expected at all, and I loved how it tied everything together while still leaving me thinking long after I closed the book.

If you enjoy dark domestic thrillers filled with betrayal, obsession, and shocking revelations, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Profile Image for Claire.
1,111 reviews183 followers
August 29, 2025
4.5*

Jessie is awake, after 12 months slumber. But her memory is still half asleep and she’s struggling to adjust. She’s in her late grandma’s house for recuperation with a nurse she doesn’t know and she’s not allowed visitors or any form of contact with the outside world. No TV, no phone, no internet – doctor’s orders she’s told.

Jessie talked to me all the way through the book. She flicked between the current incarnation and the months running up to her accident who put her in a coma. Her past story made me question where her loyalties should lie. There were too many people there to suspect. But the present gave me nothing as Jessie wasn’t allowed to speak to anyone except this nurse and her grandma’s housekeeper.

There was something definitely afoot here. Someone wanted to harm my vulnerable Jessie, I just didn’t know who. The more I read the more I was befuddled. And at one point i questioned whether Cassie was really compos mentis – was she losing the plot and super paranoid?!?

I’ve read Hood’s police procedural style series featuring Kane and Hood from the start and loved them so I was massively intrigued by what she had to offer in a psych-thriller. I’ll admit, I was not disappointed by this slight switch in crime fiction genre. Hood has written a skilful psych-thriller that made me trust no one even my narrator at points. I’m looking forward to more from Hood’s standalones!! But please don’t abandon Kane and Alton!!
Profile Image for Louise Allan.
373 reviews2 followers
July 21, 2025
Thank to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Jessie has woken up from an almost year long coma. She has no memory of the accident that almost claimed her life her husband John has stayed away and she has nobody she can trust. What caused her accident and where are her twin daughters.
Huge fan of DK Hood’s books and I was worried this wouldn’t live up to them. I shouldn’t have been as this was a masterpiece!
The book flips between the present day and Jessie’s confusion, to the year leading up to her accident. We see her events that have led to her mistrust of her husband and her complete isolation from everyone she knew. In present day we feel Jessie’s confusion and frustrations.
This was fast paced but full of twists and turns. There were many reveals and most of them were completely unexpected to me. The ending tied up loose ends.
I really felt for Jessie and this was down to the excellent writing of her character, including descriptions. I didn’t trust John as I could feel Jessie’s emotions towards him.
This was a great standalone book and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good thriller/mystery. I was addicted to this one and couldn’t put it down, and finished it in record time!
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